Joaquín Simó, co-founder of the award-winning New York cocktail bar Pouring Ribbons, will take over The Vault at Bellagio in Las Vegas on July 10–11 as part of the venue's Liquid Legends series, a curated event program celebrating bartenders and historians who have shaped modern cocktail culture. Simó is best known for co-founding Pouring Ribbons and for his work as part of the opening team at Death & Co., the Manhattan cocktail destination that helped define the modern craft cocktail movement. He is the creator of the Naked & Famous, a cocktail that has become a modern classic.

The Vault's Curator Vision The Liquid Legends series, curated by Craig Schoettler, MGM's Executive Director of Beverage and former beverage director at The Aviary and Alinea, pairs bartender stories and recipes with The Vault's collection of rare vintage spirits. Past events have featured cocktail historians and writers including Robert Simonson and Dale DeGroff. Schoettler said the series aims to "explore how cocktails evolve across generations" by bringing together the figures who have shaped modern drinking culture.

Menu Design and Innovation Simó's work at Pouring Ribbons centers on what he describes as "thoughtful hospitality, innovative menu design and balanced, ingredient-driven drinks." His appearance at The Vault will explore how classic cocktails have been reinvented over the years to create modern drinking experiences, and brings a taste of New York's cocktail renaissance to Las Vegas. Guests can attend the event by making reservations via Seven Rooms.

Why It Matters As major hospitality groups invest in experiential programming around craft cocktails, the Liquid Legends series signals how venue operators and beverage directors are using bartender collaborations and heritage storytelling to differentiate their cocktail programs and justify premium pricing in competitive markets.

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Written by FBM Publications Editors